connor graduated friday and i put together a calendar of the entire summer. on it, i included all of the free movies at our regal cinemas, plus any other activities i found that were free/cheap, plus the days he is going to vbs.
then i thought of a theme for each week, like this week is under the sea, another week if farm animals, dinosaurs, outer space, fairy tales, etc. for each m-f of each week i have been trying to find a craft or activity to do with the theme, as well as a snack. so far this week we have painted wooden lobsters, made raindbow fish out of paper plates, made blue jello with swedish fish in tiny goldfish bowls, etc.
i figure between potty training grace and the new baby, we won't be doing our typical summer stuff (beach/camping/etc) so i needed to have a plan or we would quickly fall into a lazy lounge arround the house routine.
Lichterman Nature Center (offered free summer membership) - we've been twice and the kids really like it--lots of shady hiking paths.
Swimming. We've gone to our friends' backyard pool 3 or 4 times so far plus we went to the YMCA in a neighboring town yesterday and got a free pass for the day for taking a tour of the facility. Plus they gave us another 1-day pass to use another time.
Zoo. My kids always love the zoo plus there are water actitivities there to keep us from getting too hot. We have a season pass.
Art Camp/Kindergarten Camp. My kids are going this week for 3 hours each morning. They both really like it.
We went to a free event called Wacky Wednesday at the Brooks Art Museum. They show short films based on children's books and have a craft for the children to do in another room. It was CRAZY crowded, the kids didn't like the films that much, and the craft room was completely filled so a mob of people had to wait in the hall just to go in there. There was ONE craft--making a totem-pole-type mask. After making the crafts, we walked through the museum. The event was fine although they needed to plan a larger space for crafts but it was more geared toward preschoolers. Henry and the big kids that came with my friend were pretty bored. We won't go back there, at least not with the big ones.
Good activities:
All backyard water activities. Hooking the hose sprayer to the top of the trampoline, putting the sprinkler under the trampoline, playing on the slip-n-slide, spraying each other with hose/water guns/water balloons.
Clay. I bought a tub of the Crayola air-dry clay, and Mark and I spent a good hour yesterday making things out of clay. Good, cheap fun.
Wii. I know it isn't an outside or summer activity but Henry has been having fun playing Wii baseball and tennis for the past few days.
Sidewalk chalk. I found some really bright and dark chalk colors at WM the other day--"Safari Colors", I think. The boys and I enjoyed using those yesterday.
connor graduated friday and i put together a calendar of the entire summer. on it, i included all of the free movies at our regal cinemas, plus any other activities i found that were free/cheap, plus the days he is going to vbs.
then i thought of a theme for each week, like this week is under the sea, another week if farm animals, dinosaurs, outer space, fairy tales, etc. for each m-f of each week i have been trying to find a craft or activity to do with the theme, as well as a snack. so far this week we have painted wooden lobsters, made raindbow fish out of paper plates, made blue jello with swedish fish in tiny goldfish bowls, etc.
i figure between potty training grace and the new baby, we won't be doing our typical summer stuff (beach/camping/etc) so i needed to have a plan or we would quickly fall into a lazy lounge arround the house routine.
Good idea on the themes!
I had a vague thought about doing a letter a day or something because Mark still has trouble with his letters but last week and this week, we've barely had a free moment.
I ordered a kit from Insect Lore, and 9 out of our 10 caterpillars became butterflies. It was really cool, and the kids had fun watching them. They both want me to order another batch of caterpillars, and I will once we have some money.
The company also has kits for: praying mantis, ladybugs, tadpole/frogs, ants, and other stuff. Glen said he refused to bring ants into our house on purpose but I think the mantis or the ladybugs would be neat to watch.
I ordered a kit from Insect Lore, and 9 out of our 10 caterpillars became butterflies. It was really cool, and the kids had fun watching them. They both want me to order another batch of caterpillars, and I will once we have some money.
The company also has kits for: praying mantis, ladybugs, tadpole/frogs, ants, and other stuff. Glen said he refused to bring ants into our house on purpose but I think the mantis or the ladybugs would be neat to watch.
did you tag them? or just release? my mother in law used to tag her monarchs... you can get the stuff from the monarch watch website.
I'm keeping Mason in school this summer, LOL. His preschool is at a daycare, so he'll get to play there all day MWF. I like having this time to do stuff with Peepers, especially because in the fall, he's going half-days, so she and I won't have as much alone time.
He's taking swimming lessons, and I'm doing a Mommy-and-me swim class with Peepers, so Mason will get to go to the Y's child watch while I'm there.
Yesterday we went on a picnic at a playground, and I'd like to do that a few times if it's not too hot.
I made a big list of things we can do around here, but we have no specific plans. I definitely need to work with him on letters and reading, and I love the idea of having theme weeks. Now if I can actually follow through with that is another story!
I ordered a kit from Insect Lore, and 9 out of our 10 caterpillars became butterflies. It was really cool, and the kids had fun watching them. They both want me to order another batch of caterpillars, and I will once we have some money.
The company also has kits for: praying mantis, ladybugs, tadpole/frogs, ants, and other stuff. Glen said he refused to bring ants into our house on purpose but I think the mantis or the ladybugs would be neat to watch.
did you tag them? or just release? my mother in law used to tag her monarchs... you can get the stuff from the monarch watch website.
Just released them. They weren't monarchs. Swallowtails or something, I think.
Well, I wanted to do some fun things this week since Gavin gets his tonsils out on Monday. We had a super fun weekend celebrating their birthdays and since yesterday Owen has been throwing up and having diarrhea. Fun times. He is in a good mood and has stopped throwing up but the other fun still continues.
I have to get this house clean this week and it's going to be tough.
Next week Gavin has surgery and I am not planning anything but helping him get better. Owen will be at my moms. I am sure we will be lounging and watching movies most of the week.
Once the free movies start (not until later this month) I want to do that. The weather is still pretty crummy here, it's so weird. Rainy and not typical summer weather. It's bizarre.
Anyway, I am just excited not to be working but we are watching more TV than I was hoping but it's kind of hard when the kids are sick and I HAVE to clean. I wish you were closer Corey, I'd send my kids to your preschool...I mean house.
Last week Bryce had football and baseball camp Tues-Fri in addition to baseball games. This week he has swimming lessons and it is his Spring baseball tournament. He will then have a week of practice with his 7U All Star team and then those tournaments begin on the 21st of June and he has a tournament each week until July 25th with the exception of June 28th - July 4th week.
Owen started story hour Monday. He will start swimming lessons next week and will take for two weeks. He also is now playing tball and that will go through mid-July.
Keegan is just doing story hour on Monday and is the tag-a-long for everyone else.
We are taking the big boys to an Otters Baseball game tomorrow evening and plan to do Holiday World and maybe a quick family trip over to St. Louis for the zoo and possibly museum. But will just have to see how that all works out.
__________________
Page 1 of 1 sorted by
MomSquawk -> Chit Chat -> Summer Activities - How's it going so far? Good? Bad?
